Well I was born in the Southland twenty-some odd years ago
I ran away for the first time when I was only four years old

I’m a freeborn man, Lord, my home is on my back
I know every inch of highway
Every foot of back road, every mile of railroad track

Got a gal in Cincinnata’, a little woman in San Antone
Always loved the gal next door but anyplace is home

Well I got me a Martin guitar, and I carry it an ol’ tote sack
Well I hocked it about two hundred times
But I always got it back

Well I was born in the Southland twenty-some odd years ago
I ran away for the first time when I was only four years old

[1] Well I was born in the Southland twenty-some odd years ago
I ran away for the first time when I was only four years old

I’m a freeborn [4] man, Lord, my home is on my [1] back
I know [5] every inch of highway
Every foot of back road, every mile of railroad [1] track

Got a gal in Cincinnata’, a little woman in San Antone
Always loved the gal next door but anyplace is home

Well I got me a Martin guitar, and I carry it an ol’ tote sack
Well I hocked it about two hundred times
But I always got it back

Well I was born in the Southland twenty-some odd years ago
I ran away for the first time when I was only four years old